COURTICE -- The Courtice Cougars senior girls' sevens rugby team completed a dream season this fall.

Competing in the first sevens season as a LOSSA-sanctioned sport, they expected to be competitive with an experienced team.

Courtice entered the eight-team Oshawa Vikings tournament and were crowned champions. They then completed the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record. These results got them an invitation to the first-ever Kukri 7's Ontario high school championship.

The girls were unbeaten in pool play and defeated Bill Crothers 24-7 to win the Ontario championship. The season ended with the LOSSA championships played at Raglan. Courtice shut out O'Neill 15-0 in the semifinals and defeated Uxbridge 14-0 in the finals.

On the season, the team was a perfect 18-0 and outscored its opposition 447-98. The key to success was strong tackling on defence and unselfish sharing of the ball on offence.

The junior loop was won by Port Perry, who posted a 5-1 league record and defeated G.L. Roberts in the LOSSA final. In all, 14 teams competed in this first season as a LOSSA sport.

Sevens rugby, named for the number of players on the field, is a faster version of the traditional game which has 15 players on the field. With two seven-minute halves separated by a one-minute halftime, the game is a test of speed and strength. This version of rugby will make its Olympic debut for both men and women in 2016.